VANCOUVER – It was a perfect homecoming for
Lisa Barclay (Brandon, MB).
Playing in a university match in her hometown for the first time, Barclay recorded 17 kills and nine digs, both team highs, to lead the No. 1 UBC Thunderbirds to a straight sets victory (25-14, 25-18 and 25-21) over the host Brandon Bobcats.
BOX SCORE
"I thought Lisa did a great job in her Brandon homecoming," said UBC head coach
Doug Reimer. "Her offence was crucial, but she blocked, passed, and served outstanding as well."
UBC has won 33 straight sets and 17 consecutive matches. The team improves to 18-1 in Canada West regular season play.
"I was pleased with our effort tonight," said Reimer. "Tough travel, lots of players fighting the flu, and a solid opponent all meant that we had to play well for all three sets. We will have to be well prepared tomorrow for the rematch."
The T-Birds clinched the victory after claiming the third set from the feisty Brandon squad. The host Bobcats led just once at 9-8 but stayed closed to the top team in Canada.
They were down 16-14 but won the next two points to tie the game. Unfortunately for the home crowd, seemingly every time Brandon pulled even with UBC down the stretch, the five-time defending national champions won the next point. This happened at 9-9, 16-16, 17-17 and 20-20.
Shanice Marcelle (Victoria, BC) provided the next two kill to put UBC ahead by a score 22-20. Her final kill of the night provided UBC with a match point, which the team quickly converted on. She ended the night with nine kills.
The Bobcats started the second off well and found themselves down just 11-9 but couldn't prevent another big T-Birds run. UBC scored seven of the next nine points, capped off by a kill from
Brina Derksen-Bergen (Abbotsford, BC), who also had three assists in the 7-2 run. That section of the set saw two blocks from
Abbey Keeping (Surrey, BC) and kills from Barclay, Marcelle and
Rosie Schlagintweit (Abbotsford, BC). Brandon closed to within three points but couldn't complete the comeback.
UBC led just 12-10 in the opening set before ending on a 13-4 run, which included three Barclay kills and three service errors from Brandon.
Derksen-Bergen also had nine digs to go along with her 34 set assists.
The two teams will have a rematch on Saturday afternoon, with the first serve coming at 3 p.m. Pacific.
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